The Winter Flute Gathering is a multi-day online retreat for enthusiasts of the Native American style flute. Workshops, classes and concerts focus mainly on Native flute, but also include didgeridoo and percussion. Our event is a supportive, non-competitive atmosphere designed to maximize curiosity, learning and creativity. In addition to flute, classes are also available for didgeridoo. Classes and workshops are held live and are interactive. Personal interaction and connections are encouraged through open sessions such as open mic, flute circles and social gatherings.
One of the key ingredients of this gathering is the camaraderie — friendship, bonding, personal growth and expression through making music in a supportive environment.
How the Winter Flute Gathering came to be…
Due to the pandemic, the 2020 and 2021 Pacific Northwest Flute Gatherings (a.k.a. Vashon Island Flute Gatherings) were held ONLINE through Zoom. The two gatherings were successful and enjoyed by many people from around the U.S. and Canada. The unique online learning environment allowed a different type of learning and interaction than happens in-person. The events provided retreat experiences for those people who might not ever be able to make the trip to one of our in-person gatherings. Attendees could participate from the comfort of their own homes.
In 2022, the Pacific Northwest Flute Gathering returned to Vashon Island as an in-person event. So, there would not be an online retreat. Knowing that there was a hole left that the 2020 and 2021 events had filled, retreat director Cornell Kinderknecht asked the other leaders (Pamela Mortensen, Joseph L. Young, Timothy JP Gomez) if they’d join with him to create a new online retreat, inspired by our previous online events. So in 2023, the Winter Flute Gathering was created.
Space is limited at this popular multi-day retreat. Advance registration is required.